woodhead



Sept. 8, 1925.

G. A. WOODHEAD LAMINATED SPRING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1924 Jmrenfor George fiffred wood/read Per. 1 W Lxturv fifforney.

Sept. 8, 1925. 1,552,529

G. A. WOODHEAD LAMINATED SPRING Filed 001,. [5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 George fl lfred Moor/[zead I Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE ALFRED WOODHEAD, F LEEDS, ENGLAND.

- LAMINATED srnme.

Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial No. 741,410.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALFRED Woo!)- HEAD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at the (Jrrange, Old Park Road, Roundhay, Leeds, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Laminated Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to laminated springs and more particularly to those of the kind in which the individual plates are separated from each other at the tips, or at both the tips and the encastrement or main security.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved and alternative methods for separating the individual plates at their tips, such methods involving little or no extra manufacturing costs and no departure from existing methods of production, whilst the individual freedom of action of theseveral plates is secured in such a manner as not only to eliminate frictional noises but to render the spring as a whole more completely in accord with its desired theoretical characteristics than can be obtained in laminated springs as at present constructed.

A laminated spring constructed in accordance with or embodying this invention comprises a plurality of superimposed spring plates of graduated lengths provided with seatings near their ends, and a number of separating devices therefor arranged within and located by said seatings and having portions thereof protruding between the adjacent surfaces of said plates.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a laminated spring constructed in accordance with one way of carrying out the present invention.

F1 res 2 and 3 are detail views in sectiona elevation and underside plan respectively shewing more clearly the method adopted in Figure 1 for separating the plates at the tips.

Figure 4 shews the button per se.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are similar views illustrating an alternative method, Figure 6 being a top side plan.

,Figures 8, 9 and '10 illustrate a further alternative method.

Figure 11 shews the separation of the plates by means of a button located in a hole in one of the plates.

Figure 12 shews a complete sprlng constructed in accordance with this invention as to the separation of the tips and withv separating pieces at the centre or main point of security.

Throughout the drawing like, parts are designated by. similar reference characters.

Referrin to the drawing, the method adopted in igures 1, 2 and 3 for separating the individual plates (1 of the spring at the tips consists in forming a recess 1; at or near theend of each plate, except the main plate 0 and inserting in such recess a flanged button d, as more clearly shewn in Figure 2, the boss of the button occupying the recess 1) which locates itwhilst the flange thereof which need not exceed 1/40" in thickness separates the plate from the plate above. Quite obviously the. arrangement can be reversed, that is to say, the recess may be formed in the plate above in which case it would require to be formed at some distance from the end of the plate depending 'upon the amount of overhang relatively to the plate below. The button itself, shewn separately in Figure 4 is preferably of copper, brass, gun metal or other metal or material that-will not develop asqueak' on the steel plate of the spring.

'In the alternative method illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 a hole 6 is formed through the plate a above at a suitable distance from the tip and a pin f having a flanged head 72. is inserted therein from the underside.

The said head which need not exceed 1/40" in thickness separatesthe plates from each other whilst the hole effectually locates the pin in osition. The pin is shewn separately in igure 7. Here also the arrangement may be reversed and the hole formed in the plate below if desired.

Another convenient method of separating the plates is shewn in Figures 8, 9 and 10 where it will be seen that a transversely arranged separating strip z' is located in position between the plates a at the'tip of the plate below by pressing the free ends is of the strip into notches Z or recesses formed in the edges either of the plate below, as shewn, or the plate above.

The method shewn in Fi re 11.is a compromise between that she nin Figures 2, 3'

ods for separating the individual plates at I notches or boss in or on the plate can be 'carried out at the same time as the ends of the plate are cropped, i. e., at the one heat.

Moreover, in every case' the separating means may be made of a different metal or material than steel so that frictional noises may be entirely eliminated.

'In combination with either of the means above described for efl'ecting a local separation of the plates at their ends only, further means such as the packing plates m shewn in Figure 12, may be introduced between the several plates a of the spring at the main securing point of the latter, which in the case of a spring of the semi-elliptic type shewn is at or about the middle length.

Where the buttons or equivalent devices are carried by the plate below they should be located by said seatings and havin portions thereof protruding between an parallel with the adjacent surfaces of said plates substantially as set' forth.

2. A laminated spring comprising a plurality of superimposed spring plates of graduated lengths provided with recesses near their ends, and a number of flanged metal buttons loosely occupying said recesses with their flanged portions protruding between and parallel withthe adjacent surfaces of said lates substantiall as set forth.

EORGE ALFRElD WOODHEAD.

3O vices therefor arranged loosely within and 

